Contax T2 - Click of Death? Help!

[BUTLER]

Friends of the RFF Community,

I humbly ask wtf. I got a Contax T2 in June. I've put about 60 rolls through it since then, and I have loved it. The camera feels solid as a tank, images are beautiful, etc. No complaints!

Last night, the LCD gave me the low battery indicator. So I quickly shot the last few frames on that roll, and the film rewound as normal. I popped out the dead battery, installed a brand new one and:

NOTHING. Dead. No LCD display. Camera would not switch on. All I got is a faint clicking noise as I turned the on-off / manual focus dial through its settings. With each barely perceptible click, the LCD flickered pathetically.

Obviously, I checked the battery itself, tried another brand new battery, cleaned the contacts with a dry q-tip, wished, prayed for luck, etc. to no effect. In one minute the camera was working fine. In the next, it was paperweight.

I am aware these cameras are old, and caveat emptor and all of that, but I was hoping someone in the RFF community would read this and say, "Ah ha! The Contaxt T2 Click of Death! Here is exactly what happened!" and, "Here is what you need to do!" because the closest I've come to a hypothesis is reading online someplace that a low battery in this camera can trigger the activation of a "protection circuit" but the remedy is to remove the fully exhausted battery and replace it with a fresh one (duh).

Is it just bricked? Can you kill a camera by letting its battery drain? If changing the battery as soon as you see the low battery indicator isn't sufficient, how can you guard against this?

Any ideas?

:bang::bang::bang:

 

[sevo]

Is the "new" battery good, i.e. good according to some reasonably accurate voltmeter? Even brand makers like Duracell, Panasonic and Varta/Rayovac seem to be selling a increasing number of DOA cells, I recently almost disassembled my G1 when it remained dead after putting in supposedly fresh (expiring 6/2015) brand name batteries straight out of the sealed blister pack - one cell was entirely flat...

 

[BUTLER]

I am going to my local camera shop shortly to double check the battery and, if possible, try a new one. I certainly hope you're right but that would mean I had three dead "brand new" batteries on hand.

Also, when I insert the battery and first close the cover, I can hear a "click" once the circuit is completed by the cover making contact, so I assume there's power.

 

[muf]

Leave the battery out of it for a few hours and then try again. I'm not aware of a protection circuit, but if it has one then it may need some time to allow the electronics to discharge fully. In fact, I'd leave it until the next day and start worrying if it carries on with the problem.

Nice camera btw. I have owned two but sadly I'm without one currently. My second one cost me £110 from 'the bay' in mint condition from Germany. Great price for a great camera!!!

Paul

 

[peterm1]

Another long shot suggestion. I recall that with the Nikon f801s its circuitry would short out in high humidity conditions. When the camera returned to a dryer atmosphere it was fine again. Could this happen with a T2 (not sure ) but what was the weather like?

I owned a T2 and like you loved it - till I gave up shooting film and sold it. Never had a moment's problem.

But here are some links to a thread by people having similar sounding issues to you.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/contax_t2/discuss/72057594110418820/

http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100107

There are some other similar posts if you Google "Contax T2 problems" so sadly it sounds like it may be an issue as they age.

 

[BUTLER]

Well, I've sent it back to the seller. They've honored their 6 month warranty (even though it's the 7th month [of course it is]). If they can repair it, they will.

I think the suggestion to leave out the battery for a day to discharge it fully was a great idea, but now it's already on an airplane back to NY. I wish I'd tried that before packing it up. Too hasty.

Re weather - sunny and dry here in southern California - and I was shooting indoors when it died.

 

[35mmdelux]

Well, I've sent it back to the seller. They've honored their 6 month warranty (even though it's the 7th month [of course it is]). If they can repair it, they will.

I think the suggestion to leave out the battery for a day to discharge it fully was a great idea, but now it's already on an airplane back to NY. I wish I'd tried that before packing it up. Too hasty.

Re weather - sunny and dry here in southern California - and I was shooting indoors when it died.

I think you did the right thing in this case, well sort of, since 7 mos is a long time. At some point you do own the busted camera.

Whoever said SoCal is humid never been here. Having said this, your glasses might get a little humid if you hang out at any of our beaches;-)